Detection of pre-diabetes conditions frequently associated with 
Volume 7, Supplement 2, Jul-Aug-Sep 2010
Omega-3 fatty acids: Optimising their use in cardiovascular disease and diabetes
A tool kit for the diabetic foot
Diabetes clinics form a major part of the workload for practice nurses, but 95% of routine diabetes care is delivered by patients themselves or by family members and carers. It is imperative that we offer people with diabetes concise, up-to-date education for effective foot care and to prevent complications.
Injection technique: Passing on best practice to patients
In the UK, an estimated 1 million people with diabetes use injectable therapies, and these patients are increasingly being managed in primary care. As a result, more primary care nurses are taking responsibility for the initiation and continuing management of injectable therapies, including advising on and reviewing an individual patient’s injection technique.
Ensuring the safe use of insulin in diabetes
Insulin therapy is life-saving for people with type 1 diabetes, and a key component of the treatment regimen for many people with type 2 diabetes. At the same time, insulin is a major cause of adverse drug events, some of which are so severe that they cause emergency admission to hospital. There is therefore much that needs to be done to improve the safe use of insulin in order to reduce medication errors and hospitalisation associated with hypoglycaemia.
Let’s talk about sex to men with diabetes
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is three to four times more common in men with diabetes, and 20% have the condition at diagnosis. ED is a marker for heart disease, and men themselves value the opportunity to discuss their sexual problems with a health professional. The annual diabetes review offers the opportunity to identify and treat these men. Some practice nurses may find this task daunting, but treatment of ED can help to improve a man’s wellbeing and reduce his cardiovascular risk.
Identifying people with or at risk of type 2 diabetes
In this paper, we summarise previously reported findings from the MY-WAIST study, which aimed to evaluate a primary care strategy for identifying people with undiagnosed type 2 diabetes or at increased risk of developing this condition. Recruitment was unexpectedly low, but the qualitative data collected, including interviews with healthcare providers, helped to highlight some of the reasons for poor uptake of the appointments offered. Perceived barriers to recruitment included heavy workloads and competing demands in primary care. Lower uptake in people from harder-to-reach groups was identified in our quantitative findings and was also suggested by healthcare providers’ perceptions about the characteristics of patients who attended.
Coherent management of diabetes, weight & cardiometabolic risk
Successful management of individuals with diabetes, or any other single component of the metabolic syndrome, requires treatment of all the related physiological systems as a whole. This treatment must be underpinned by the management of obesity, and drugs should be preferred that address the entire portfolio of the metabolic syndrome.
Structured education in diabetes
NICE recommends that all patients with diabetes should be offered a structured educational programme at diagnosis, together with regular reviews and updates. Several programmes are available that meet NICE criteria, and there is evidence that they can help to improve patients’ quality of life, well-being and diabetic control.
Contraceptive choices for women with diabetes
Unplanned pregnancy with poor glycaemic control at conception is associated with major maternal and perinatal complications. However, contraception is used haphazardly by women with diabetes and is often not discussed by diabetes professionals. GPs and practice nurses need to be able to give appropriate advice about contraception to the increasing numbers of women of childbearing age with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Prescribing DPP-4 inhibitors – Are there clinically relevant differences?
There are now four agents in the new class of glucose-lowering agents called dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4 inhibitors) available in the UK. They are, in order of launch in the UK, sitagliptin, vildagliptin, saxagliptin and linagliptin. Several others are in the pipeline and are likely to be launched before long. This article will discuss their place in treating diabetes and the differences between them.
Introducing dapagliflozin for type 2 diabetes
Dapagliflozin (Forxiga) is the first in a new class of oral antidiabetic drug that has been given the go-ahead for marketing in Europe, including the UK. Described as a sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, this new preparation works on the kidneys to lower blood glucose. What does this new drug have to offer and how can it potentially help our patients with type 2 diabetes?
Back to Basics: Albumin:creatinine assessment in chronic kidney disease and diabetes
ALBUMIN:CREATININE ASSESSMENT IN CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE AND DIABETES
